The Argosy — page 169: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

152 Fair Normandy. time, but they are there, ready to spring into activity the moment they are aroused. It is so with ourselves; with our inner nature, our virtues and our faults. We conquer and subdue the latter, but they are never completely eradicated. We bind chains about our souls, and if the chains themselves disappear, they leave an impression that is much more lasting. But there was a great deal in Rouen—to resume our legitimate theme—that was wonderfully interesting, without going to the out- skirts of the town, or into its ancient quarters, Right in the very centre of the new part of the town, for instance, and almost under the shadow of the cathedral on one side, and St. Ouen on the other, is the Church of St. Maclou, a very rich example of the florid gothic style of the fifteenth century. The west front, with its deep tripal porch, is very magnificent and elaborate, and its doors, exquisite examples of Jean Goujon, are almost un- rivalled. The interior is not very striking, but it has some beautiful stained glass windows, and a remarkable and very lovely gothic stair- case leading to the organ loft. Not very far off is another building equally interesting, but not ecclesiastical ; one of the most noted in France. ‘This is the Palais de Justice, erected in the days of Louis XII. It is a magnificent building in the florid gothic style, and is loaded with ornamentation. It forms three sides of a square. ‘The wing on the left is called the Salle des pas perdus, from its great size. It was built in 1493 as an exchange. The root resembles a ship’s hull, inverted, and is of a dark rich colour that is very effective. The central portion was built about the year 1500 for the Supreme Tribunal or Parliament of Normandy. ‘The building is now chiefly used as an Assize court. The exterior 1s extremely effective, and of the most refined character. It resembles very much some of the town halls of Belgium, but is of still greater beauty and refinement than any of these. Another building of the same character, smaller but equally interesting, is the Hotel de Bourghéroulde, constructed at the close of the fifteenth century by the Seigneur de Bourghéroulde for a palace. It is situated in the Place de la Pucelle, and the great gates admitting you are behind the statue of Joan of Arc. ‘There is a porter, whose offices are scarcely wanted, for there is little to be seen beyond the exterior of the building. It is built round a court, and the enclosure is one of the most beautiful and perfect things in Rouen. You pass through the gates, and are immediately in another world and another age. A beautiful hexagonal tower rises in the centre, richly sculp- tured ; on your right is a short but exquisite staircase, leading to rooms that to-day are given up to financial matters. On the left the walls are richly decorated with reliefs, representing scenes from the ““Field of the Cloth of Gold.” ‘The upper windows are pinnacled. ‘The whole is in that condition of crumbling decay which adds so much to its beauty. Gomicbooks.com | a \